[Sickbay]: Round One scans and vaccines

[ten_fwd_npcs]

[ Captain's Log: a Meeting with the Senior Staff. Wherein Picard discusses what to do with their new, er. "Guests." ]







As you enter sickbay tonight, escorted there by Lieutenant Worf and his security detail, you may notice it isn't all that unusual. There are no terrifying devices or humming machines you could see in a sci-fi thriller. The biobeds along the walls are equipped with biofunction monitors, but look fairly standard. Instead of silver trays filled with metal tools and sawblades, there are an array of small devices that look as harmless as cell phones. As for Chief Medical Officer Crusher herself, she's well-groomed and kindly, wearing her teal uniform and a blue coat. No masks, no rubber gloves. The most dangerous thing about her is that maternal look in her eyes; the one that scolds you for not doing your homework, or leaving your dirty dishes in your room.

The crew makes no promises for Dr. McCoy, on the other hand. He isn't one of ours. You should probably watch your neck.

"All right, don't be shy," Dr. Crusher calls out as you enter. "Come in and sit down. It's just a scan and maybe a hypospray, nothing to worry about."

Probably.


[ooc: This is an open log for everybody. Tagging isn't mandatory, but going to sickbay is. So if you'd prefer to skip threading with one of our doctors, you can handwave that your character got a clean bill of health and a shot and were sent on their merry way. For those who are tagging, we have Bones McCoy and Beverly Crusher (NPC) on deck, so if you'd prefer one over the other just specify it in your tag. If you would like more details about sickbay, here's the wiki page. If you haven't made your OP yet, you can assume the doctors will want to see your character shortly after they arrive.]

Comments

[i_got_vision]

Butch has nothing to worry about.

Well, besides probably a whole raft of germs and parasites and things he doesn't even know about--sanitation hasn't always been the greatest, places he's lived in. When you're out on the trail and there's a stream or lake that looks clean enough, you drink from it.

But he wouldn't mind having any of that cleared up. Hypospray away.

[ten_fwd_npcs]

Oh, Dr. Crusher is just going to love that.

"Have a seat," she says, gesturing to the biobed. "This shouldn't take long at all. Do you have any pre-existing conditions or injuries we should know about before we begin?"

[i_got_vision]

"I've been in my share of trouble," he says, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. "Old injuries, if they count--nothing new, but I broke my arm once, got trampled by a horse, fell off a few. Got shot, but it healed up just fine."

And all the other things he doesn't feel the need to mention. He's a healthy enough man for his time and place.

[ten_fwd_npcs]

Beverly notes the pertinents down, nodding as she sets the scanners to start on Butch. "You seem relatively healthy," she says, "Though perhaps like you've never been vaccinated for anything."

[i_got_vision]

"Just smallpox," he says. "Years ago. I was going to work in a mining town, and you know how they are."

Or maybe she doesn't. They may not be like that anymore.

"You got people from all over the country, all over the world even--a lot of them are immigrants--and they're all looking for work. Not everybody's healthy, and it only takes one sick person in a town like that to cause a big problem."

[ten_fwd_npcs]

"Looks like I've got my work cut out for me," she mutters, and comes up with a hypospray combination that ought to prevent everything he's not been vaccinated for--which is much, much more than he likely thinks it is.

The press of the air needle through his skin is mostly painless, and as she administers the cocktail of medicines, Beverly continues, "Well, rest assured, we eradicated smallpox quite a few years ago, by our standard. Nothing to worry about there."

[i_got_vision]

It's not the most comfortable feeling in the world, but he's heard of less pleasant treatments. Enormous syringes going places a man would rather not have them go--not that he's ever had that done. But men talk.

"There's been outbreaks in Utah a few times during my life," he says, "even with the vaccines. Some people just don't want to have it done. But I'd sure rather do that than get sick."

[ten_fwd_npcs]

"And I'd rather have you healthy than spreading germs around my ship," she says, balancing the firmness of her tone with a light smile. "Utah, is that where you are from?"

She keys in a few more things before putting her tricorder aside. "Please, lie down on your back so I can log your bio-readings into our computer."

[i_got_vision]

"Originally, yeah," he says, settling back on the bed. "I grew up there, and I've been all over the West since then--not all the way to the ocean, I've never had a reason to. But Utah, Wyoming, Texas, Colorado... I've been a ranch hand and gone on cattle drives. Some people don't like to travel. Me, I don't mind it."

[ten_fwd_npcs]

While the biobed takes his readings, Beverly smiles. "I've always liked traveling, but that's just part of the job when you're a doctor on a starship like this one. Earth must have been even more lovely back when it was wild."

She sighs a little wistfully, and glances at the readouts. "It looks like everything is in order. Your vitals are all good, and everything's logged in correctly. Now, sometimes there are allergies to the hypospray. They're rare, but not entirely uncommon. You're welcome to stay here for a few minutes to be safe, but otherwise I think you're free to go."

[i_got_vision]

"There's no more beautiful place I've ever been than Wyoming," he says. "Cities are great--I love people, love being around them, love a good meal and a warm bed and a roof over my head. Just not all the time."

It's going to take a while to get used to being in such a clean and modern place. A hologram's no substitute for real nature.

"Thanks. Best medical exam I've ever had--least painful, too."

[ten_fwd_npcs]

Beverly chuckles.

"I'm happy to hear that," she says. "We've made quite the advancement since your time. Hopefully I won't have to see you again for a long while, but if I do I promise to be gentle."

She isn't always all business, she has a well-formed sense of humor. And a sense of whimsy, if her reaction to his description of Earth is anything to go by.

"Take care, and do stay out of trouble," she adds, giving him a slightly pointed look.

(She's also clearly a mother.)

[i_got_vision]

"I'll do my best," he says with a grin, as he gets up. "But sometimes trouble finds me, whether I'm looking for it or not. I hope it won't, here. But thanks again."

Nicest doctor he's ever been a patient of, too.

This place isn't so bad.